The geth unit onboard as everyone stressed, well except me of course. The robots I befriended in the past were some of the greatest individuals one could know. Based on my game knowledge, Legion is probably going to be one. The only issue is, this will be his first time living amongst organics. The places I went, robots were common and had equal rights. There was a long established culture of peace and cooperation between the inhibants. Even if Legion does have a soul, it's going to be confusing for him to understand the inner functions of biological minds. Only experience and a guide will help him.

Tali and her father are upset about the possibility of working with a geth. I got on my hands and knees, begging to give him a chance. It was the first time I've ever done such a thing in this universe. Understandable, they are very reluctant to go anywhere near the geth unit. It's been a few days since we picked Legion up and the nerves of the staff are starting to cool. Maybe in another day will be a good time to activate Legion. Until then I've been distracting myself with various chores, that was until Shepard paid me a visit.

"Hey *********, you busy?"

"Never. What's up?"

"We are pretty close to Ilium and so we are stopping by to get some fuel, materials, and other supplies. This is probably going to be our last visit to civilization for a while. While the ship get loaded, Liara and I are going to get dinner. Would you and Tali want to join us?"

"Oh that sounds fun. Tali could really use the time off and away from the ship. She's scared that the geth unit will wake up and kill everybody in their sleep."

"Could it?"

"No. It will only wake up if you activate it."

"Should I?"

"This is your choice Shepard."

"Why can't you give me a straight answer?"

"You won't see me taking the controller and finishing your save file."

"You can be really annoying."

"You're paying for the bill because of that."

"Worth it."

"Be honest, you are only asking us because Miri and Jacob said no."

"That is not the reason, but they did decline when I asked."

"Ouch. I thought we were your go to couple?"

"Just go find your girlfriend and meet us at the bar Liara's father runs."

"You're taking her to the place her dad runs for a date? That sounds weird."

"We're very close and this isn't the first time. I gotta go make the rounds. See you later *********... Also dress casually."

"Ok" I wave my hand and my outfit changes into a dark pair of blue jeans and an emerald green athletic shirt. My favorite one. Thane's coat is mission wear and I want to have a nice evening with them. I wonder if I should ask Tali to change. Knowing what's under that has me fired up! I'm getting girlfriend withdrawals. I need a healthy dose. A quick phase into the engine core room and I approach the galaxy's best quarian.

"Hi sweetheart. Shepard and Liara are going on a date later and want us to join. Should we accept?"

"Tali? Sweetie?"

"Huh what? Oh yeah. That sounds nice."

"Is everything ok?"

"I haven't been sleeping since we brought that thing aboard."

"Tali I get that you're scared, but it's not anything you haven't killed before."

"That doesn't make me feel any better! Why would a geth save an organic? If Shepard activates it, will it try to kill my father or I?"

"I would never let that happen."

"I believe you, but I just want that thing gone."

"You don't even know it."

"Neither do you! It probably hates all quarians."

"I don't think it even has the capability to feel hatred. Sweetie I think we are both getting wound up and I don't want to fight with the person I care the most about. Can we just forget about him and enjoy the evening with Shepard and Liara? Please?"

"I'm still mad…"

"I'll make you quarian ice cream" crap where am I going to get flavoring?

"DEAL!"

Despite my best attempts to sway her, Tali didn't change into her pearly swirlies. She said it will only be for special occasions. My emerald shirt got a good reaction out of her. She loves the color and rubbed her hand against my chest. It made me blush. God she is amazing. We left the ship and meet our boss and his trophy girlfriend at the bar. Shepard must be in the bathroom and I can't tell which asari is Liara.

"Liara!" Tali said. I play along like I know this unique looking asar- "Liara It's been too long."

Avoid awkward moment check.

I ask "Where is Shepard?"

"He's freshening up" Liara said.

"In the bathroom? I should ask, which one is the boys room?" I still haven't taken a number too all this time.

"Females and asari use the one with a circle on the door and the square for males." she explained.

"Got it simple enough. Shepard's coming up behind you?" When I said that, A huge smile erupted on her face matching her large round eyes. Liara deeply loves him. Shepard captures her torso and pulls his prize close. Liara turns around. He and the asari share a passionate kiss. The sweetness of the moment barely covers the sensations of vomit climbing up my esophagus. I'm not ruining it for my best buddy. Liara does look a bit different than most of the other asari I've seen. Something special about her. I wonder if it is because she is pure blood."

Liara breaks the kiss and sneezes.

"Bless you" Shepard and I said.

"Umm… Thanks" Liara said.

Tali asks "why did we just bless her?"

Shepard answers "It's a thing with humans. We're supposed to say that whenever someone sneezes."

The evening was pleasant. I got to see a side of Liara and Shepard I haven't seen. The spectre is completely relaxed around her while Liara is more expressive. They look very happy. While they were distracted, I use super speed to take a picture of this moment. I'll print it out and frame it then give it as a wedding present.

Shepard and Liara felt guilty being the only ones eating. I wanted to have space chicken strips, but I wasn't going to leave Tali being the odd one out. My girlfriend insisted it was ok, but I felt too guilty to do it. When Liara's dad brings the check, Shepard fumbles around to pull out his wallet. They have wallets here?

"This should cover it and the rest of my tab" Shepard holds in his fingers something I've seen before. It is a small coin, but I can see this beautiful toroidal field around said disc. A moving beauty of all the colors. They can't see what I'm witnessing. What he has in his hand is very special. At the guild, artifacts people donate from their travels are kept there. If we find anything interesting and wish to learn more, that is where we go. That field is exactly the same as a piece of ore someone found long ago. It's a naturally formed matter to energy converter. Unbelievably rare. Its beauty matches its danger.

I grab hold of Shepard's wrist and raise it up.

"SHEPARD WHERE DID YOU GET THIS!"

He innocently asks "********* what is the matter?"

"HOW DO YOU HAVE THIS?! EVEN I'M NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS!"

Tali grabs my biceps, gently trying to pull me away.

"*********, let go of him or you'll have to deal with me" Liara warns.

"DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS IS?!"

"It's element zero. Calm down. Please." Shepard said.

"What?"

"The material responsible for the mass effect. You never seen it before?"

"No. Why are you giving it to her?"

"As payment. It can be melted into coins and used as currency instead of credits."

"...Do you feel anything when you hold that?"

"No. Should I?" Shepard said.

They really have no idea. The properties in that little object greatly enhance my abilities, like a performance enhancing drug. It's dangerous to use. The guild only ever had the one piece, and no one ever found anything close to it. What we do know, in theory, could greatly assist in helping souls ascend. Wait, the mass effect essentially turns them massless in a quantum bubble thing I don't care to understand. Well, that explains why I feel weird around biotics, they are barely tapping into their true potential. Their energy is strong, but raw and chaotic. I see why Samara has been having such a difficult time developing my powers. The element zero must be altering my energy. Oh, if they ever figure out about the vibrations, it would be easy for them to ascend.

"I'm sorry Shepard. I-uh. I've seen that before. Not here."

"You have? Where?" he asked.

"Let's find someone private to discuss this."

I apologize for making a scene. The bill is paid. Liara takes us back to her apartment where we can discuss this.

"Ok first off, I need to know. How does money work in this galaxy?" I asked.

Liara explains "different species have their own forms of currency used on their homeworld, however the dominant currency is element zero since we rely on it for space travel."

I ask "Then what are credits?"

"They are a digital currency established by the volus long ago. Transporting element zero costs money and takes up space so we used credits to make it easier for transactions and prevent theft. Nearly every place will have a store that exchanges credits for element zero if needed" she explained.

I ask "Can the government confiscate it? Can they poof more credits into existence?"

"No. Asari banned any forms of currency with supplies that can be manipulated on our home world long ago. This was after a financial disaster before my time. The volus designed it so the supply of credits is finite, and the free market determines it's worth. The value of credits goes up with the supply of element zero increases, encouraging. mining efforts." A digital currency that could not be confiscated by a money hungry government essentially backed by a precious resource. No wonder these people are advanced.

"They are good space jews." I utter.

"I'm sorry?" Liara said.

"Nevermind. That coin you used earlier. We have someone with a very similar energy field at the guild. But instead of a coin, it is a blueish gray stone."

Liara explains "It must be the ore element zero is commonly found in. I have a sample over here. It's a souvenir from one of my first dig sites." Liara goes to the end table beside her large bed and pulls out a smaller version of what I've seen.

"That ore was found in a completely different universe."

"So, element zero exists in other universes as well. You made it sound unique to this one" Shepard said.

"I thought it was too. Shepard, do you have another one? I want to see what it is made out of."

"Shepard pulls another small element zero coin, the size of a half dollar, from his pocket and carefully puts it on the table. Only the slightest physical contact is necessary to determine what it is made out of. My index finger touches the edge.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Darling, are you feeling alright?" Tali asks.

"Oh, this could be very addictive. Hahaha. Let's see. It is one of those element species with 115 protons. Why does that sound familiar? Ok that is it, keep this away from me." Is this what heroin feels like? I felt bliss.

"Did it just make you high?"

"Oh yeah, I'm feeling so much better than before. Liara, do you feel anything when you touch element zero?"

Liara says, "Not at all."

"Hmm. We'll you were born with it so maybe you don't even notice. Do you feel weird around me?"

"Always" she said.

"I meant does it interact with your aura? Energy bubble?"

"If you mean by naturally occurring mass effect energy field, then yes. It feels like you push hard against it despite not being a biotic." Liara said.

"I think we are both talking about the same thing, except the element zero in your body naturally enhances the matter to energy conversion in your nerves. Since it is normal for you, you never trained to use it except for basic biotic attacks, while I had to build mine up and learn to control it by myself."

"Does that mean it would be easier for me to become like you?" Liara excitedly asked.

"Maybe? I tried helping Samara by altering the vibrations for her so she could get a feel of the goal, but something was fighting me. It never happened before when I taught people. Now I see it is because that pesky material works both ways. Samara did complain of feeling somewhat ill afterwards. I bet my energy converting into something that shouldn't. I need to tell her when we get back to the ship."

"She isn't poisoned, is she?" Tali asked,

"Chakwas checked her out and said she was fine and only needed rest."

"Asari live very long lives, we learned ways to deal with accumulated materials that would otherwise damage our health if left unchecked. She'll most likely be fine. Before you depart, would you please show me?"

"No only Tali will get to see it" I look down to make sure. Yep. Fly is all the way up.

"I meant your energy form. Please?" Liara's thirst of knowledge is overpowering her. Those puppy dog eyes must have what seduced the commander.

"It's not much to look at. Imagine a green oval with blue dots everywhere." I modestly said.

Tali says "********* your other form is beautiful. While I adore your body, I'd like to see the real you."

"This is the real me."

"I know that. What I meant was, I enjoy seeing it. You are allowing us to see it feels like a gesture of trust and it makes me feel close to you." Tali said. ... yep... I am so building her a castle.

"Ok Tali since you asked. And I feel closer to you too sweetheart."

I transform and Liara is astonished. Maybe I can trust these people. I'm allowing my soul to be exposed in a way they can't see. I've never been emotionally vulnerable like this around people. Perhaps It's time for a change. PULSE. A shockwave of energy pervades the room. Knocking everyone to the ground. I convert into matter and apologize a thousand times.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I don't know what happened. I've never done that before. Did I hurt you?" I pull everyone off the ground and brush the dirt off their shoulders.

"We're fine. I think we've been through worse. What was that?" Shepard asked.

"I don't know. I was... allowing myself to feel... vulnerable and that blast came out of nowhere." I feel so guilty and embarrassed.

Tali directs my attention towards her. "*******, it's fine. you didn't hurt us. We know you would never to that on purpose, but maybe you shouldn't do that again."

"Ok. Again, I am truly sorry." I said.

Shepard replies. "It was more disorienting than anything, but I have noticed a change in you recently. Are your powers acting up or something?"

"They shouldn't. I have been feeling a bit off recently. Maybe I should go back to the ship and rest. Liara I'm sorry to cut the night short, but it was good to see you again. I'm afraid we won't see each other again for a while."

"How long were you thinking?" she asked.

"I don't know. Nine months? A year?"

"That is not a long time for an asari." she said.

"RIGHT. I forgot we view time pretty differently than these youngsters. Then we'll see each other soon enough. I'll let you enjoy a night with your human boyfriend. Aren't we the best?" Tali and Liara both nod. Boy, Shepard and I are two very lucky guys.